Both have a place in the Roman Breviary.^473
Gregory I. (d. 604), though far inferior to Fortunatus in poetic genius, occupies a prominent
rank both in church poetry and church music. He followed Ambrose in the metrical form, the
prayer-like tone, and the churchly spirit, and wrote for practical use. He composed about a dozen
hymns, several of which have found a place in the Roman Breviary.^474 The best is his Sunday hymn:
"Primo dierum omnium,"
"On this first day when heaven on earth,"
or, as it has been changed in the Breviary,
"Primo die quo Trinitas,"
"To-day the Blessed Three in One
Began the earth and skies;
To-day a Conqueror, God the Son,
Did from the grave arise;
We too will wake, and, in despite
Of sloth and languor, all unite,
As Psalmists bid, through the dim night
Waiting with wistful eyes."^475
The Venerable Bede (d. 735) wrote a beautiful ascension hymn
"Hymnum canamus gloriae,"
"A hymn of glory let us sing;"
and a hymn for the Holy innocents,
"Hymnum canentes Martyrum,"
"The hymn of conquering martyrs raise."^476
Rabanus Maurus, a native of Mainz (Mayence) on the Rhine, a pupil of Alcuin, monk and
abbot in the convent of Fulda, archbishop of Mainz from 847 to 856, was the chief Poet of the(^473) See two Latin texts with critical notes in Daniel, I. 160 sqq., rhymed English Versions by Mant, Caswall, and Neale.
The originals are not rhymed, but very melodious. See vol. III. 597. The Opera of Fortunatus were edited by Luchi, Rom. 1786,
and Migne in "Patrol. Lat." vol. 88 (Paris 1850). Comp. Ampère, Hist. littér. II. 275 sqq.; Ebert, l.c. I. 494 sqq. Fortunatus is a
very interesting character, and deserves a special monograph. Kayser devotes to him three chapters (p. 386-434).
(^474) Daniel, I. 175-183, gives ten hymns of Gregory, and an additional one (Laudes canamus) in vol. V. 248. Mone adds
some more of doubtful authorship, I. 370, 376 sqq.; III. 325 sqq., and includes hymns in praise of Gregory, as "O decus sacerdotum,
flosque sanctorum." English translations of his Breviary hymns in Mant, Chambers, Caswall, Newman. On his merits as a poet,
see Ebert, I. 827 sqq. Luther, in his Tischreden(which are a strange mixture of truth and fiction), declared the passion hymn
Rex Christe,factor omnium, to be the best of all hymns ("der allerbeste Hymnus"), but this extravagant praise is inconsistent
with the poetic taste of Luther and the fact that he did not reproduce it in German.
(^475) From Newman’s free reproduction (in Verses on Various Occasions). See the Latin text in both recensions in Daniel,
I. 175,
(^476) Daniel, I. 206 sq.; Mone, I.1 ("Primo Deus coeli globum") and 284 (Ave sacer Christi sanguis). The hymn for the infant
martyrs at Bethlehem is far inferior to the Salvete flores martyrumof Prudentius. The first of the hymns quoted in the text
is translated by Mrs. Charles and by Neale. German versions by Königsfeld (Ihr Siegeshymnen schallet laut, and Unschuld’ger
Kinder Martyrschaar), Knapp, and others. Bede composed also a metrical history, of St. Cuthbert, which Newman has translated
in part ("Between two comrades dear").